Other Adventures

Thailand is really a cakewalk for tourists – everything is conveniently packaged and written in English. Sure, you could probably save a few bucks by making solo arrangements, but when you’re strapped for time and eager to see it all – well, it just makes sense to leave matters to the experts.

On our second full day in Chiang Mai, Dan and I visited six hill tribes (Akha, Lisu, Hmong, Laku and two different clans of Karen). Originally refugees from neighboring Burma/Myanmar, Tibet and China, these tribes were granted land and permission to stay by the Thai government. They maintain their own customs, dress and languages within their villages, although some now travel into the cities to work or sell their wares. The Karen are very reserved and quiet, while the Lisu were noticeably more vocal and the Akha literally chased us down the road as we left the village, trying to sell us more of their goods – even after we had already purchased several items.

A few days later, we visited the elephant camp and later partook in a wee spot of bamboo rafting. Asian elephants are much smaller than their African cousins, although an elephant is an elephant is an elephant and they’re ALL big. These elephants once worked in the fields, dragging trees, but now there is a halt on further deforestation. So, like the rest of us, they have to earn their daily bread. In addition to vegetation, the gentle giants nosh about 200 kg of bananas each day – bananas which were conveniently for sale to all the google-eyed tourists. If I sound a bit cynical (and I always sound a bit cynical), don’t be fooled. I was quite happy to pay for the chance to do this:

We also got the opportunity to check out some live music, which included a performance by the most fantastically rhythmic, red silk-adorned ladyboy that mine eyes have ever beheld.